Bamford, in the High Peak, is typical of Derbyshire villages which saw great changes during the twentieth century. In our case, local valleys were flooded to make the Howden, Derwent and Ladybower reservoirs, and many people whose families had farmed the land for generations became dependent on water management for employment.

The decline of manufacture in the UK saw Bamford Mill, once an important source of work in the village, eventually converted into luxury flats. The sensitively managed moorland, woodland, streams, the gritstone edges and the reservoirs themselves now attract large numbers of people. But Bamford has kept its feet on the ground and, while it offers visitors a very warm welcome, the village has not been swamped by tourism.

One way of keeping our particular identity is through village events which involve whole families. In 2002, the opening of the Bamford Touchstones Sculpture Trail and the first Bamford Festival put community arts alongside the traditional annual Garden Show and Carnival. Local people - along with visitors - enjoyed themselves enormously, and asked for more community arts events.

The Bamford Living Memory project is creating all kind of occasions during 2003 and 2004 for older villagers to pass their memories on to younger generations, in their own words, and for younger people to respond; and to publish and record local Christmas carols. The project will produce books and a recording, and be reflected in performances and exhibitions during the second Bamford Festival, October 2nd - 9th, 2004.